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  CHAPTER 7 _AN EMPTY BED_

  At Riverview hospital twenty minutes later, Jerry was given a completephysical check-up.

  "The X-rays won't be developed for another half hour," an interne toldhim, "but you seem to be all right."

  "I not only seem to be, I am," the reporter retorted. "Told you that whenI came here! But would anyone listen to me?"

  "Twenty-four hours rest will fix you right up. We have a nice privateroom waiting for you on the third floor. Bath and everything."

  "Now listen!" exclaimed Jerry. "You said yourself I'm all right. I'mwalking out of here now!"

  "Sorry. Orders are you're in for twenty-four hours observation."

  "Whose orders?"

  "Dr. Bradley. He had a little talk with the publisher of your paper--"

  "Oh, I get it! A conspiracy! They're keeping me here to keep me fromchecking up on Danny Deevers!"

  "What's that?" the interne inquired curiously.

  "Never mind," returned Jerry, closing up like a clam. "I'll slip you afiver to get me out of here."

  "Sorry. No can do."

  The interne went to the door, motioning for two other internes who camein with a stretcher.

  "Hop aboard," he told Jerry. "Better come peaceably."

  Jerry considered resistance. Deciding it was useless, he rolled onto thestretcher and was transported via the elevator to the third floor. Therehe was deposited none too ceremoniously in a high bed.

  "Just to make sure you stay here, I'm taking your clothes," said theinterne. "Now just relax and take it easy."

  "Relax!"

  "Sure, what you got to kick about? Your bills are all being paid. You gettwenty-four hours rest, a good looking nurse, and a radio. Also threemeals thrown in."

  Jerry settled back into the pillow. "Maybe you've got something afterall," he agreed.

  "That's the attitude, boy. Well, I'll be seeing you."

  Satisfied that Jerry would make no more trouble, he took his clothes andwent outside.

  Penny and Salt, who had been waiting in the reception room below, steppedfrom the elevator at that moment.

  "How is Jerry?" Penny inquired anxiously as she stopped the interne inthe corridor.

  "He's all right. Go on in if you want to talk to him."

  "Which room?"

  "Wait until I put these clothes away and I'll show you."

  The interne hung Jerry's suit in a locker at the end of the corridor andthen returned to escort Penny and Salt to Room 318.

  Jerry, a picture of gloom, brightened as his friends entered.

  "I'm sure glad you came!" he greeted them. "I want you to help me get outof here."

  "Not a chance," said Salt, seating himself on the window ledge. "This isjust the place for you--nice and quiet and safe."

  Jerry snorted with disgust.

  "Dad and Mr. DeWitt both think Danny Deevers means business," Pennyadded. "The paper is offering $10,000 reward for his capture."

  "Ten thousand smackers! I could use that money myself. And I have a hunchabout Danny--"

  "Forget it," Salt advised. "This is a case for the police. Just lie downlike a nice doggy and behave yourself. We'll keep you informed on thelatest news."

  "That reminds me," added Penny. "After the ambulance took you away, Dadhad the theater searched and the alley. No clues."

  Jerry lay still for several minutes, his eyes focused thoughtfully on theceiling. "If it's the verdict that I stay here, I suppose I may as wellgive up and take my medicine."

  "Now you're showing sense," approved Salt. "Penny and I have an idea thatmay help trace Deevers. We'll tell you about it later."

  "Sure," retorted Jerry ironically, "spare me the shock now. By the way,did you meet an interne in the hall? He was carrying off my clothes."

  "Yes, he brought us here," Penny nodded.

  "You didn't happen to notice where he hid my clothes?"

  "They're safe, Jerry," Penny assured him. "In a locker at the end of thehall."

  The information seemed to satisfy Jerry. Wrapping himself like a cocoonin a blanket, he burrowed down and closed his eyes.

  "I want to catch forty winks now," he said. "If you folks have a big ideathat will lead to Danny's capture, don't let me detain you."

  "Jerry, don't be cross with us," Penny pleaded. "We know how you feel,but honestly, you'll be so much safer here."

  Jerry pretended not to hear.

  After a moment, Salt and Penny quietly left the room.

  "He's taking it hard," the photographer commented as they sped in thepress car toward the _Riverview Star_ building. "In a way, you can'tblame him. Jerry's not the type to be shut up in a nice safe place."

  "Dad wants to keep him in the hospital until Danny Deevers is captured,but it will be hard to do it."

  Salt, driving with one hand, looked at his watch.

  "It's after nine o'clock," he announced. "Penny, you've missed the dinnerat the Hillcrest."

  "I don't mind. So much has happened today, I've had no time to behungry."

  "Want me to drop you off there now?"

  "No, the banquet will be nearly over. I couldn't bear to listen tospeeches. Let's go straight to the office and find out what that trafficaccident picture shows."

  "Suits me, only I'm hungry." On impulse, Salt pulled up in front of ahamburger shop offering curb service. "Let's grab a bite before we reallygo to work to crack this case."

  He tooted the horn and a uniformed girl came hurrying to take his order.

  Fortified by sandwiches, coffee, and ice cream, the pair then drove on tothe _Riverview Star_ office.

  Avoiding the busy newsroom, Salt and Penny went up the back stairs to thephotographic studio. Bill Jones, a studio helper, was busy at the wirephoto machine.

  "Has that picture of the traffic accident I sent over come up yet?" Saltasked him.

  "On the desk," the boy answered. "Not too sharp."

  Salt picked up a dozen pictures which had been printed on glossy paperand rapidly ran through them until he found the one he sought.

  Eagerly Penny peered over his shoulder. The two cars involved in theaccident were plainly shown, the license numbers of both visible. In theancient vehicle, the younger man had lowered his head so that his facewas completely hidden. The camera had caught a profile view of the olderman, also not clear.

  "Lousy picture," said Salt contemptuously.

  "It shows the license number of the car. Can't we trace the driver thatway?"

  "The Motor Vehicle Department is closed now. But I know a fellow whoworks there. Maybe he'll do us a favor and go back to the office tonightand look up the information."

  Salt made the telephone call, and after ten minutes of argument,convinced his friend that the requested information was a matter of lifeand death.

  "He'll do it," the photographer said, hanging up the receiver. "Soon's hegets the information, he'll telephone us here."

  Penny had been studying the photograph again. She now was ready with asecond suggestion. "Even if the faces aren't very clear, let's comparethem with pictures of Danny Deevers in the morgue."

  "Good idea," agreed Salt.

  The newspaper morgue or library where photographs, cuts and newspaperclippings were carefully filed for reference, was just a few steps downthe hall. Miss Adams, the librarian, had gone to lunch, so Salt obtaineda key and they searched for their own information.

  "Here's an envelope marked Danny Deevers!" Penny cried, pulling it fromone of the long filing drawers. "All sorts of pictures of him too!"

  Critically, the pair studied the photographs.

  The escaped convict was a middle-aged, sullen looking man with hard,expressionless eyes. In one of the pictures, parted lips revealed a setof ugly, uneven teeth.

  "This shot I took is so blurred, it's hard to tell if they're the sameperson or not," Salt complained. "But it looks like Danny."

  "If it is, that would e
xplain why he tried to make you give up theplate."

  "Sure, he knew the car license number would be a tip-off to the police.But maybe the bird isn't Danny."

  "I wish we were certain. Salt, couldn't Jerry identify him from thepicture you took?"

  "Maybe. Jerry saw Deevers several times before he was put away in thepen."

  "Then why not take the picture to the hospital now?"

  "Okay," agreed Salt. "Let's go."

  Fifteen minutes later, at the hospital, they sought unsuccessfully topass a receptionist who sat at a desk in the lobby.

  "Sorry, visiting hours are over," she explained.

  "We're from the _Star_," Salt insisted. "We have to see Jerry Livingstonon an important business matter."

  "That's different," the receptionist replied. "You may go up to his room,but please make the call brief."

  An automatic elevator carried the pair to the third floor. Jerry's doornear the end of the corridor stood slightly ajar. Salt tapped lightly onit, and hearing no answer, pushed it farther open.

  "Well, what d'you know!" he exclaimed.

  Penny, startled by his tone of voice, peered over his shoulder.

  The room was deserted. Jerry's bed, unmade, stood empty.